Musical drum with multiple playing surfaces and a seat for the player

Abstract

An embodiment of a musical drum with a single outer shell and divided internally into a plurality of resonant chambers. A plate with a plurality of cutouts is mounted to an open end of the outer shell and a plurality of playing surfaces is mounted to the cutouts. The playing surfaces are joined to resonant chambers in the outer shell. The playing surfaces can be tensioned independently and are interchangeable with playing surfaces of similar shape and size, and are constructed of a variety of materials. The outer shell forms a general hourglass shape with a flat side that can be used as a base. A seat for the player is affixed to the outer shell.

1. A musical drum comprising:
 (a) an outer shell divided internally into a plurality of resonant chambers; 
 (b) at least one plate; 
 (c) a plurality of cutouts in said plate; 
 (d) a plurality of playing surfaces that are mounted to said cutouts in said plate; 
 (e) said plate mounted to said outer shell such that a plurality of said playing surfaces can be joined to a single said resonant chamber within said outer shell and a single said playing surface can be joined to a single said resonant chamber within said outer shell. 
 
     
     
       2. The musical drum of  claim 1  wherein said playing surfaces are interchangeable with playing surfaces of similar shape and size and are constructed of a variety of materials, including natural skins, synthetic skins, wood and metal. 
     
     
       3. The musical drum of  claim 1  wherein each said playing surface is independently tunable. 
     
     
       4. The musical drum of  claim 1  wherein a seat is attached to said outer shell such that said outer shell serves as the base of said seat for the player.